NUJ Tasks Govt, Private Business On PPE, Palliatives For Journalists

The leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) have challenged the Federal, State Governments and private businesses to urgently ensure the inclusion of media practitioners and other essential workers in the presentations of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and Palliatives in order to protect and encourage performance and output during the Covid-19 pandemic.

NUJ National Trustee, Zone F, Comrade John Angese and the State Chairman of the Bayelsa Council of NUJ, Comrade Samuel Numonengi, made this known yesterday in Yenagoa during the presentation of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to Journalists by a member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Wisdom Fafi at the NUJ secretariat.

Comrade John Agese noted that despite the dangerous and engaging role of Journalists, Police, Health workers and other essential workers in the sensitization, security and treatment of Covid-19 virus, the Federal and State Government treat the essential workers as those not qualified to benefit from PPE, testing and presentation of palliative to cushion the effect of the pandemic.

He called on the Federal, State Governments and private sector to consider essential workers as the most vulnerable as they leave behind families at home to perform the needed duty to safeguard the lives of many Nigerians.

Also speaking, the State Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Samuel Numenengi noted that in spite of the huge role being played by Nigerian Journalists and other essential workers, they remain neglected and left vulnerable to contact the Covid-19 virus due to absence of PPE and others.

Numonengi thanked the member of the State Assembly representing Kolokuma/Opokuma constituency 2,Hon. Wisdom Fafi for his presentation of packets of face masks, sanitizers, soaps and other needed PPE.

Earlier, in his presentation, Hon. Wisdom Fafi pointed out that his decision to reach out to Journalists at trying times was based on his Conviction that Media practitioners are also critical stakeholders in the battle against Covid-19 pandemic, ‘they are at the fore front of the Covid-19 campaign. Despite the fact that government cannot reach out to everyone at a time, the essential workers need to be motivated and encouraged. “

(Factual Times)